On January 20, 2022, the Ontario government announced a gradual easing of public health measures, beginning on January 31, 2022. Effective on that date, the new measures will include: social gathering limits increased to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. capacity limits increased to (or maintained at) 50% in indoor public settings, including restaurants,…
Publication Name: Human Resources Legislative Update
Ontario Moves to Modified Step 2 due to Surge in COVID-19 Cases
On January 3, 2022, the Ontario government announced that in light of the surge in COVID-19 cases, the province will be moving to modified Rules for Areas in Stage 2 of its Roadmap to Reopen plan. These changes will come into effect on January 5, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. and will remain in effect until…
Federal Bill C-3 Passes, Includes Amended Medical Leave Provisions
We reported on Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code when it was tabled in late November: Federal Government Tables Bill to Provide 10 Days Paid Sick Leave and to Protect Healthcare Workers From Intimidation. Bill C-3 has now passed, with amendments made at Committee to the Canada…
Ontario Announces Further Capacity Limit Reductions in Light of Omicron
On December 17, 2021, the Ontario government announced it is taking further public heath measures in light of the rapidly spreading Omicron variant. The new measures significantly expand upon the December 15 announcement reducing capacity limits to 50% in certain settings with a usual capacity of 1000 or more. Effective December 19, 2021, the following…
Ontario Reduces Certain Capacity Limits in Light of Omicron Variant
On December 15, 2021, the Ontario government announced that in light of the Omicron variant, it is reducing capacity limits to 50% for the following indoor venues with a usual capacity of 1000 persons or more: facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities entertainment facilities such as concert venues, theatres and cinemas racing venues…
Reminder to Employers: General Minimum Wage to Increase January 1, 2022
On December 9, 2021, the Ontario government passed Bill 43, Build Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2021, which, among other things, amends the Employment Standards Act, 2000 to increase the general minimum wage from $14.35 per hour to $15.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2022. The following changes to other minimum wage rates also come into…
Ontario Releases Recommendations on the “Future of Work”
On December 9, 2021, the Ontario government released The Future of Work in Ontario, a report from the Ontario Workforce Recovery Advisory Committee that includes 21 recommendations on the future of work in the province. The recommendations focus on three key areas: economic recovery, strengthening the province’s competitive position and supporting workers. As we reported…
Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, Receives Royal Assent
On December 2, 2021, Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, 2021, received Royal Assent. We reviewed Bill 27 in detail in our FTR Now of October 26, 2021, Ontario Proposes Significant Changes to ESA and Other Employment-Related Legislation, as well as our FTR Now of December 1, 2021, Ontario Passes Bill 27, Working for Workers…
Federal Government Tables Bill to Provide 10 Days Paid Sick Leave and to Protect Healthcare Workers From Intimidation
On November 26, 2021, the federal government tabled Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code. Amendments to the Canada Labour Code If passed, Bill C-3 would amend the Canada Labour Code (Code) to provide employees in federally regulated industries with up to 10 days of paid medical leave….
Federal Government Tables New COVID-19 Leaves Under the Canada Labour Code
On November 24, 2021, the federal government tabled Bill C-2, An Act to provide further support in response to COVID-19. Among other things, if passed, Bill C-2 would reintroduce COVID-19 leaves of absence (repealed on November 20, 2021), as amended, under the Canada Labour Code (Code). Under Bill C-2, the new COVID-19 leaves would provide:…